Chapter 36: Through the Portal

Dustin opened the door to see Nate staring out the window.

"I honestly don't want to hear it." Nate said.

"Too bad," Dustin said as he walked next to him. "What's going on?" Nate looked up at Dustin with hallowed eyes.

"Do I really have to say it out loud?" Nate asked.

"Is it more than just that?" Dustin asked. Nate inhaled deeply.

"Yes and no. It all leads back to her. It's my fault she's dead." Nate said as he looked back towards the window.

"I understand how you feel." Dustin said as he looked out the same window.

"I doubt that." Nate muttered under his breath.

"You shouldn't make accusations that you don't know about." Dustin said.

"What?"

"My parents, both of them." Nate looked back at Dustin.

"How?"

"My father I don't know. He went missing when I was ten. Then a few years later," Dustin inhaled deep. He closed his eyes and exhaled. "My mom. They were murdered. They tried to get me too, but my mom made a sacrifice. It's the reason I am here today."

Dustin's speech was followed by a long awkward silence.

"I never knew."

"Yeah, it's not something I talk about a whole lot. After a while it will be the same for you. But her memory will never leave your heart. It's been over ten years sense my dad, and near eight with my mom, and I know if I ever feel sad about it, I know they are in my heart. I know it sounds cheesy, but it's true."

"But it hurts so much." Nate said threw his teeth,

"Yeah, kind of get use to that. If you ever go through something like this, it will always hurt. A part of you is gone. But it's not letting it get to you like it has. What would Lauren say to what happen in their?" Dustin asked.

Nate fell silent.

"I am not trying to lecture you, or make you feel bad, but you can't let grief control your life. It's hard I know. But we have responsibilities now. I am sorry."

"I know, I know. How did you ever get back to normal after your parents?" Nate asked.

"Honestly I never did. But I worked harder each day to improve things. I know they would want to see me go forward with my life. I know Lauren would want the same for you as well." Dustin turned around and started to walk away. "Get some things together, were going to the Bermuda Triangle." Dustin said as he walked back into the gym. Nate turned around confused.

"Bermuda Triangle?"

-"Here are the plane tickets to Miami." Bishop said as he gave Dustin four plane tickets. "Do you know when you will return?"

"No clue. We will call you once we return to Miami." Dustin said.

"If we get back." Tyler said sarcastically. Zach smacked him in the back of the head.

"Nice support for the team." Zach laughed.

"I was just joking." Tyler said as he rubbed the back of his head.

"You don't need your passports. At the airport is a cab that will take you to the cost off of Crandon. From there a boat will be ready for you to go to the Bermuda Triangle. Are you sure that's right?" Bishop questioned.

"That's what our inside guy says." Dustin said as Tyler and Zach gave each other a look.

"Flight 453 is boarding." A voice said over the loudspeaker.

"That's your flight. Good luck." Bishop said as the four of them walked to the gate.

"How much did you tell him?" Zach asked.

"Little to nothing. All I said was Ryan was kidnapped." Dustin said as he handed his ticket to the women behind the counter.

"Well this should be interesting." Nate said. Zach looked at his brother.

"Nate, I am sorry what happen. I hope we can get past our argument."

"Zach it's ok. Don't worry about it." Nate broke a quick smirk.

-Dustin hardly let out a breath. He clenched his fingers into his arm rest. Next to him, Tyler gave him a weird look. On the other side of the aisle, Zach laughed and Nate read a magazine.

"You're scared to fly?" Tyler questioned. Dustin's eyes didn't blink. He slightly nodded his head up and down.

"You do realize that makes no sense what so ever." Zach chuckled to himself.

"How so?" Dustin asked quietly.

"You fly on your own!" Tyler said as he and Zach laughed.

"I am going to kill you guys." A stewardess walked up to the group.

"A man is calling for you. His name is Bishop." She told Dustin who still didn't move. Zach rolled his eyes and grabbed the phone. The stewardess walked away.

"Hello?" Zach asked.

"Zach? What happen to Dustin?" Bishop asked on the other end of the phone.

"Dustin is, well scared of flying." Zach said.

"You're kidding me?" Bishop asked.

"No." Zach laughed a bit. Dustin shot a dark glare towards Zach.

"No matter, there seems to be a situation." Bishop said. Zach's face went to serious.

"What's wrong?"

"The Media has heard about your trip. They are going to be at the airport when you get there. We're trying to get everything under wraps, but it's been difficult. I wanted to warn you about this possibly issue." Bishop said as he hung up.

"Well we will have a welcoming committee when we get to Miami, the Media."

-The airplane started to descend into Miami.

"Ok it's been an hour and none of us has any good ideas of how to deal with the media." Nate said.

"Hey I think my idea could work." Tyler said.

"Tyler you are not going to turn the new reports into chocolate." Zach snapped at him.

"It would work." Tyler said.

"Yes it would. It would also get the attention of the cops." Nate said as he shook his head.

"I don't see you guy's coming up with anything better."

"Dustin?" Zach said to a motionless Dustin. "Time to wake up, we need some help." Dustin didn't move. The airplane continued to descend. The tires hit the ground and Dustin shook his head, almost like he was in a trace.

"Dustin?" Tyler asked.

"Yeah?" Dustin asked.

"We need some help the new is going to be at the airport when we exit the plane." Zach said.

"Oh that, that won't be a problem." Dustin smiled.

-Passengers started to exit the plane. Dozens of news reports were waiting impatiently. More and more passengers walked out of the plane, looking at the group of reports curiously. The news reports started to talk amongst themselves, wondering where the group of super power humans was. The last passenger exited the plane and then a stewardess came out to close the door. The news reports rushed the stewardess.

"Where are the super humans?" They all started to ask together.

"I am not sure what you're talking about." The stewardess said.

"We had reports of the kids that fought the Mayor of Columbus with powers were on this flight."

"Well I am not sure, but all the passengers are off the plane.

"Are you sure?"

The stewardess gave the reports a dirty look.

"Are you saying I don't know if people are on the plane?" The reports backed off. "That's what I thought." The stewardess closed the door behind her and walked back to the plane.

-"They should be gone." The stewardess said as she walked up to Dustin and Zach. Tyler and Nate were grabbing their bags.

"Thanks for the help." Dustin said.

"It was honor to help true heroes."

"All in a day's work!" Zach said proudly.

"The side door is unlocked, it's a little bit of a jump," she started.

"Not an issue, thank you very much." Dustin said as Nate and Tyler came up to them with bags in hand. "Ok, were off." They turned around and opened the side door to the plane, and jumped out.

-The cab pulled up to a dock next to a huge pier area. They got out and gave the driver a nod. They looked around, confused at their new surroundings.

"So, where do we go?" Tyler asked.

"Well Bishop said we would find a boat for us." Dustin says as they walked down the pier. They saw a huge long line of boats.

"Ok so out of all of these boats, how are we to tell which one is ours?" Zach asked as they walked further down the pier. They all shrugged as most of the boats looked the same.

"Maybe it will say our name, or Bishop's name or a government agent will be waiting there," Dustin said as they stopped in front a huge black boat.

"Or it could be the boat that is black with an American flag painted on the sides." Nate said. They approached the boat and an envelope was taped to the haul. Dustin opened it and started to read the letter.

"The Boat is set for the area of the Atlantic Ocean. It should take fifteen minutes to get there. Signed Bishop." Dustin stuck the letter in his back pocket.

"Should we get going? Zach asked. Tyler jumped into the boat and started to look around.

"Wow this place is a like a hotel. The government really knows how to treat their people." Tyler said from inside the boat.

"Yeah let's get going, we don't know how much time we really have." Dustin said as the three of them got into the huge boat. Dustin and Zach walked up to the control area. Nate looked around and opened a large white box and looked inside. Nate let out a sigh as he looked back towards his friends.

-Water splattered against the side of the boat as it sped through the water. Dustin was amazed at the controls. He literally was doing nothing at all, it was all automated. Zach was at the front of the ship looking around at the endless ocean. Tyler stayed under deck, he said we was not feeling good, refusing to come up till they hit land. Nate was at the back of the boat, messing with some box. Dustin walked up to Zach.

"You ready for this?" Dustin asked.

"I wish. But we don't have a choice. Ryan is counting on us." Zach said as Nate started to yell. Dustin and Zach looked at each other and ran to the back of the boat. They saw Nate with a back pack on.

"What's wrong Nate?" Zach asked.

"I wanted to say goodbye." Nate said as he strapped on a clip from the back pack.

"Good bye? What are you talking about?" Dustin said confused.

"I am not going with you. I need to take care of something more important." Nate said as he looked behind him at the rushing water.

"More important than saving Ryan?" Zach accused.

"Look I know it seems like you need me for this, but trust me, you guys will be fine." Nate slipped the last clip together on his back pack.

"Nate, what about what we talked about this morning?" Dustin asked.

"It's because of that I need to do this. I will see you when you get back." Nate said as he grabbed a draw string from the back pack.

"You're not wearing a back pack, are you?" Dustin asked.

"Tell Ryan I am sorry. But I am sure you all will realize I am not needed for this mission. I realize now I should have stayed home."

"Nate, what the hell is wrong!" Zach asked in anger.

"That's the problem." Nate said as he pulled the draw string and a parachute released from the back pack and Nate was lifted up into the air in a hurry. Zach and Dustin looked up at Nate in the air. Zach clenched his fist in anger as Nate became smaller and smaller as the boat rushed forward.

"I am going to turn around the boat to get him." Dustin said as he started to go up to the controls.

"No!" Zach yelled. "Leave him." Dustin looked at Zach with a worried look. "He wants to be like that, then fine." Suddenly the boat started to rock. Zach grabbed the side of the boat to keep form failing. Dustin looked at the controls and they were going haywire.

"I think we're approaching the Triangle." Dustin said as he pointed forward and the once clear blue sky was turning dark grey. The water came splashing up the sides of the boat, hitting Zach in the face. Zach rushed up to Dustin at the controls.

"Are we going to make it?" Zach asked, now worried. In front of them the air whirled up fast and it started to turn purple.

"The portal." Dustin said as the boat rushed towards the purple wind and in a flash of lighting the boat was gone.